David Carlton Hamby

David Carlton Hamby went home to be with the Lord on November 22, 2020, with his family surrounding him. He was born in Hughes, Arkansas on February 19, 1944, to blessed parents James “Buster” Carlton and Mamie Vaughn Hamby. David grew up in the Colt and Caldwell, Arkansas area and graduated Forrest City High School in 1962. He married the love of his life, Janell Hall, in 1965. He was a member of the church of Christ. David was blessed with three daughters who consider him to be the best daddy in the world, ever. He went to all their school activities and ball games and forced them to watch an endless stream of musicals – from West Side Story to Fiddler on the Roof – and spaghetti Westerns. Through it all, he made them laugh and feel loved. David repeated this wonderful process with his grandchildren, who grew to love those old movies almost as much as he did. After high school, David started college in Chicago, Illinois and then went to work for Ma Bell in the 1960’s and retired in the 1990’s. After his retirement from Southwestern Bell, he and Janell started a construction company. As he grew older, David spent his free time playing with his grandchildren, going to the lake, reading a good book, spending time with his classmates and always telling jokes. Life changed for David and his family in 2015 with a stroke that left him unable to do so many of his favorite things. His family, loved ones and friends will forever miss his sense of humor and love of conversation. He truly never met a stranger. He taught his children to love the Lord and provided a wonderful example of what it means to be a Christian husband. David is survived by his wife Janell Hall Hamby, who cared for him so devotedly the past five years; his daughters Candace and her husband Stephen Taylor of Fort Smith, Arkansas; Paige and her husband Eric Dillinger of Palestine, Arkansas; Courtney and her husband Jeffrey Bickerstaff, of Benton, Arkansas; his grandchildren Bailey Dillinger Tatum and husband Drew Tatum, Houston Dillinger, Maggie Laws, Grace Taylor, Hailey Taylor, Luke Bickerstaff, Kylie Bickerstaff and Jake Taylor; his sister, Sandra and her husband Raymond Benson of Caldwell, Arkansas; brother-in-law Lowell and his wife Mary Francis Hall of Palestine, Arkansas; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Visitation will be held on November 24, 2020, at 1:00pm at Bell Cemetery in Palestine, Arkansas with a graveside service to follow at 2:00pm. Stevens Funeral Home in Forrest City, Arkansas, is in charge of arrangements. You may log on to stevensfuneralhome.net to sign the online registry. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org or Bell Cemetery at 1280 Oak Street, Palestine, Arkansas 72372 in c/o Valerie Parker.

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David Carlton Hamby

February 19, 1944 - November 22, 2020